Cold winters day casting

[novalty]

Well had the day of, and really need some 9mm cast to load this winter. While 14° outside, it wasn't the ideal casting situation from my garage, but did manage to get some nice cast bullets. My melt was set to a higher temp this time, biggest issue came with sticking bullets, but got enough cast to help get me some loaded.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7218_zps05613c66.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7218_zps05613c66.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7221_zpseed18804.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7221_zpseed18804.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7222_zpsdca685c8.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7222_zpsdca685c8.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7223_zps04894aac.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7223_zps04894aac.jpg.html)

[Dan Cash]

Those hollow points look painfull, painful to cast and painful to be shot with. Lots of work there.

[HiVelocity]

"Any day to cast up a pile of boolits, is a good day!"

Nice job Novalty,

HV

[novalty]

I did have some issues casting the round hp's today. Usually they drop better than the penta shaped hp's. Ended up only filling 3 of the 4 cavities. Ran 2 cavities with flat nose and 2 with round hp's. The cavity closest to the handles had a hp pin, and it kept sticking.

[Pepe Ray]

Nice job Paul. My hero ;-) .
I can remember when I was young and tuff . Good looking product!
Merry Christmas!
Pepe Ray

[novalty]

Thanks Pepe! Wish I had more to show for my effort. The piles above are the sorted out boolits, and since I was only filling 1 HP cavity and 2 flat nose, I ended up with about 100 and 200 respectively.

[RED333]

Good looking boolits there.
I hate sorting, I cast HPs, then take the HP pins out and cast solid.

[CastingFool]

I have tried casting boolits in 40 deg weather, and that was not fun. Ended up putting most of the boolits back in the pot.

[BNE]

Nice looking casts. I got to go to work today! Not a bad day at all, but I suspect you had more fun.

[novalty]

Well this was my 5th time casting, and I got the best results so far for shiny boolits. Just hope I don't have to have freezing temps to get it right every time. The 1500 watt radiant heater I had next to me didn't really do a heck of alot. Was thankful that my garage is unfinished, and the fumes could go up towards the peak. Cracked the side entrance door some, to help keep fresh air moving.

[tuckerdog]

I set a 60,000 btu turbo heater blowing to my work area. stay nice and toasty

[monge]

My wife always has a strange look on her face when I come from the garage with a big pile of boolits! And im smileing ear to ear.

[Sweetpea]

I did have some issues casting the round hp's today. Usually they drop better than the penta shaped hp's. Ended up only filling 3 of the 4 cavities. Ran 2 cavities with flat nose and 2 with round hp's. The cavity closest to the handles had a hp pin, and it kept sticking.

Call me crazy, but I would think you would run the hp pin in the middle, to keep it warmer.

[Tx reloader72]

Great looking boolits novalty! You inspired me to get out and cast up a bunch of little silver pills for the wifes 9. Got 1300 cast up today, that should keep her busy for a while.

[novalty]

Great looking boolits novalty! You inspired me to get out and cast up a bunch of little silver pills for the wifes 9. Got 1300 cast up today, that should keep her busy for a while.

Awesome job Tx reloader. I need to cast somewhere around that amount for next summer. Hopefully it will be warmer out for my next session.

[Spawn-Inc]

looks nice, did you water drop or air cool?

also how long did that take?

[MUSTANG]

looks nice, did you water drop or air cool?

also how long did that take?


At 14 degrees, looks like it could have been freezer cooled.

[357maximum]

I get my best results casting in the winter also, but I ladle cast with a small turkey fryer burner basically between my legs and I do not notice the cold. I dislike casting when it is above about 50 degrees or so, much prefer 20-40 degrees. I SIMPLY HATE casting when it is 80plus and only do it out of desperation or a new toy followed me home. I do LARGE batches in the winter so I can simply go shooting in the summer.

[ammohead]

357m,

+1 on the hot garage casting session. Not so much. My gargage is 750 sq ft so it catches quite a bit of the Nevada sunshine. First I insulated and drywalled the 2x4 inside. That brought it down from 135 deg F in August to about 115 deg. Then wallmarts biggest window ac unit. Then had to reroof the house and garage and went from black to silvertone shingles and finished with 1" Rmax on the south facing metal garage overhead door. Now I can almost always get it down to 85 or so even in mid nineties outside. I do as you and wait/procrastinate until winter for casting.

[myg30]

Nice job casting them HP's in the cold Novalty.
I enjoy casting all the time. My old fingers don't like the cold as much as I do. Its a "RE learning " curve casting in the cold with a wind, verses summer casting. Especially switching from steel to aluminum, two cav to 4 cav. Knowing how high to set the pot when the wind is blowing vs no wind in warm temps.

For me, Id rather be cold casting than sitting in a tree stand freezing !!

Mike

[novalty]

Spawn Inc., I water dropped the bullets into a Folger coffee can with terry cloth towel clothes pinned to keep splashing from happening.

[mrk_86]

nice looking boolits there!

[ncbearman]

Well I did these Paul the day after you did. They looked a lot better than this pic is showing. It's from my MiHec 316410 GB I got a couple months ago. Love his moulds.

92463

[novalty]

Those look great ncbearman! My camera tends to do the same thing, and relay shine when the bullets are frosted some. The 9mm I posted in this thread actually did come out with hardly any frosting or dull color--ok for my 5th time casting I guess. I lubed and sized them 2 days ago, and only ended up with about 280. Will be switching the 9mm mold to just FN for all 4 cavities for the next session, as I have to get another 1500 or so made to load this winter. Certainly won't be getting that done today, where the windchill has driven the temps into the -20° to -30° degree range.

[Ubet]

Can I ask are you normally casting inside with the fumes, if so what are you using to ventilate the garage area?

Ubet

[reddoggm]

Nice job Paul. My hero ;-) .
I can remember when I was young and tuff . Good looking product!
Merry Christmas!
Pepe Ray

And here I thought I was the only one afraid of the Big Bad COLD Garage

[novalty]

Can I ask are you normally casting inside with the fumes, if so what are you using to ventilate the garage area?

Ubet
My garage is unfinished with no ceiling, so clear up to the peak. I set my table next to a garage door, and raise it up near the height of the table, and open side door. In warmer weather, I leave all the doors in the garage open

[Beau Cassidy]

I prefer a little better ventilation than the garage can give. The garage certainly isn't the ideal place to cast but when its cold outside ya gotsta do what ya gotsta do!

[Smoke4320]

Nice job ..
I can relate .. just got 12" of snow, 25 degrees and I spent the day in a unheated garage casting 210 Lee 309 230's and powder coating 600 Mil Hec 312 159's and Lee 457 340's
a good day I had

[mold maker]

I'd sure rather have been casting than shoveling 7+" of the wettest snow I ever saw. I did however think a lot, about the 2 new molds sitting quietly on my bench.

[dnotarianni]

did 1500 200 gr 45s Sat and 300 630gr for my 500 this afternoon. Just trying to get caught up. Need a couple thousand more 45s and some 475s for the 500 to be happy.

[novalty]

Yesterday it was closer to freezing (32°) without a breeze and it felt like a heat wave. Opened up the garage doors and cast some more 9mm's from my 359-125 M-P mold, for my father-in-law to use in his new S&W M&P. Between yesterday and my last session I sent him home with just over 700. Should tide him over until he gets a mold. He has always used 2 cavity steel molds, and he was amazed that in the short time we spent casting we ended up with over 400 keepers.

[Smoke4320]

had to fire up both pots Sunday afternoon
cast another 300 Mil hec 312 159's then smelted another 100 Lbs of COWW
Got another 140 LBS to Smelt
looking fondly to getting another 4 cavity NOE mold

[Dale53]

I have a small utility barn with electric heat and a window air conditioner for the summertime with a dedicated casting bench. We have had a terrible winter compared to average (nearly 40" of snow for the season and our average is less than 8"). In addition, we've had temperatures of WAY below zero.

At any rate, I needed something to do without a necessity of going somewhere else to do it. I headed to the barn to cast some bullets. I turned the power on and "no joy in mudville". One leg of my 220 volt circuit is broken. I had a new patio put in over top of the buried power line last fall, and apparently the combination of shifting some earth and extreme cold has broken one side of my power line. GR-R-R-R!!! I am limited to 120 volts which means no heat. What a revolting development THAT is[smilie=b:

I do have a little ceramic heater so after the temperature gets up to fifty or so it'll probably be warm enough (with long johns) to cast some. I'll have to wait until the Spring thaw to repair the wiring. I am NOT going to dig up my patio so guess I'll have to run some overhead wiring.

In the meantime, I guess I'll sit on my hands:violin:

Fortunately, I have plenty of bullets cast and sized. I also have plenty of loaded rounds, so really have little need to run the Dillons. Oh well, could certainly be worse.

Back on topic, the O.P. is to be congratulated for casting in this weather. I might suggest some mould release for the hollow point pins. Just apply to the nose that forms the hollow point. Those bullets will "Jump" off the pin after application.

FWIW
Dale53

[Mike Malat]

Broke in a new 6 cavity Lee 452-200-SWC yesterday morning. 20 degrees out and after preheating the mould on a hot plate it started to make good boolits on the 2nd pour. Scrubbed it with soap n water, Brake cleaner, smoke it and off to the races. Open the mould and they jump out. I've been very happy with all of my lee moulds.

[Chapo]

Nice job man! Here in AK my casting sessions are inside my garage with the door half open with outside temps in -38

[taco650]

Nice job man! Here in AK my casting sessions are inside my garage with the door half open with outside temps in -38

I moved to GA two+ years ago from Central OR, high altitude desert. Winter temps below freezing for couple months at least. Guess I've been in GA too long already because being outside when its 32 seems pretty cold. Can't imagine trying to cast in the conditions Chapo is talking about!:holysheep

[RP]

Well for those guys casting in the cold I have to quote my oldest son when they are breaking ice in the dark to duck hunt ( boys you got to want it ) I am thankful I do not have to freeze to cast.

[catncarp]

great story, and thanks for sharing, I know the feeling

[Smoke4320]

It was either cast in 25 degrees or watch TV .. At least with casting I ended up with something usable..WHAT would you do ?

[Just Duke]

Well had the day of, and really need some 9mm cast to load this winter. While 14° outside, it wasn't the ideal casting situation from my garage, but did manage to get some nice cast bullets. My melt was set to a higher temp this time, biggest issue came with sticking bullets, but got enough cast to help get me some loaded.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7218_zps05613c66.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7218_zps05613c66.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7221_zpseed18804.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7221_zpseed18804.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7222_zpsdca685c8.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7222_zpsdca685c8.jpg.html)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7223_zps04894aac.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/IMG_7223_zps04894aac.jpg.html)

Looks like a good day casting. Which mould and mould number did you use sir?

[novalty]

Looks like a good day casting. Which mould and mould number did you use sir?
Duke those were cast from Mihec's 359-125.

Today I started in on the 500lbs of lead wheel weights I had sitting in my garage. Only got 2 dutch ovens through (probably 130-140ls), which took a little over 2 hours, with fluxing each batch 3 times. Ended up with a little over 100lbs I'd say.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0738_zpsdc433370.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0738_zpsdc433370.jpg.html)

[smlekid]

been the complete opposite here in Australia where I am we had about a month of 45 degree days oh and that's in C to not F so that's around 115

[Just Duke]

Duke those were cast from Mihec's 359-125.

Today I started in on the 500lbs of lead wheel weights I had sitting in my garage. Only got 2 dutch ovens through (probably 130-140ls), which took a little over 2 hours, with fluxing each batch 3 times. Ended up with a little over 100lbs I'd say.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0738_zpsdc433370.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0738_zpsdc433370.jpg.html)

Thank you sir. Is that mould still available?

[Just Duke]

Would those run in a Sig 226?

[novalty]

Would those run in a Sig 226?

DUKE you've got mail. As for the 359-125 bullets, so far they have been successfully run in a S&W 5906, Shield, and M&P. All sized at .358.

[Just Duke]

DUKE you've got mail. As for the 359-125 bullets, so far they have been successfully run in a S&W 5906, Shield, and M&P. All sized at .358.

Thanks for the heads up sir. How well do they open up? Any chance I could buy 5 bullets from you?

[RP]

Yep I say casting beats TV any day of the week and at the low temps you do not have to wait long for the spruce to cool think positive. The warmer weather here has spoiled me but soon it will be very hot and muggy.

[Crash_Corrigan]

It brought tears to my old tired eyes when I saw the snow on the ground next to the right side of that pick up truck with the ingots on the tailgate. Never again! I have been living out here in the desert in Las Vegas since '93 and my blood has thinned out so much that it is dangerous for me to shave every day. So I don't. I usually do that on Saturday prior to spending some time with me sweetie.

As for casting and reloading I do what ever I want as I reside with my boys: Sgt. Rambo and Boy George. No women in my little tin trailer in Sin City. I usually do all my depriming and priming by hand in front of the TV. I do my casting in my bedroom on a wooden table I built just for that purpose. On it I have my RCBS Pro Melt furnace, a black powder dispenser and a Lyman T turret press which I use only for BP reloading. My only concession to the fumes is a pedestal fan which I run across from right to left and another in the hallway sucking air out of the room. So there is a good breeze blowing all he time across my casting area. It also helps keep me cooler when casting. I keep a layer of kitty litter on top of my melted alloy and I only use ingots which I have triple fluxed or more.

I pretty much do this whenever I like except when it gets to be over 110 degrees outside. On those days I find something else to do as my trailer's air conditioning unit cannot handle the extra heat from the furnace when it gets that hot. This vintage '64 trailer does not have much in the insulation department and when it gets over 115 outside it gets to be in the low 80's inside without casting. I have fishing lures to make, a guitar which needs to be played, critters to spoil, a motorcycle which needs exercise and a pool which needs a swimmer. Then again I could just fashion myself an adult beverage and watch TV. I recently upgraded my plasma with a DVR and with auto recording I always have on hand many hours of my favorite fare on hand to be enjoyed without annoying commercials. I just press a button and zip right thru them at 8x speed. I hardly ever watch anything live anymore, except the ladies at the pool......

I have lived in the North East for over 45 years and I have come to abhor snow and ice. It does just not fit my lifestyle to have to shovel snow and deal with ice anymore. I fled to NM from Vermont in '88 and hence to LV in '93 and I can deal with winters here. The summers I do not wish to discuss with anyone. Last summer I spent over 40 days on the road through 13 much cooler states and got some prime fishing done in Montana and Iowa.

I returned to LV to enjoy the last few weeks of a major forest fire which pretty much stunk up the area for the entire period when I was gone. My future plans include a PU to haul a tent camper. On top of the camper will be my kayak and in the bed of the PU will be my Triumph motorcycle. My goal is to leave LV in early June and not to return until October. There is a big and interesting country away from Las Vegas and I would like to see a lot more it before I cash in my chips. My major concerns about such a long road trip are keeping up with my bills and my investments via computer on the road and which guns to take along and what to bring to load more ammo. A lap top with wi-fi would seem necessary and a single stage press and a scale seem logical. I could able to reload ammo on the road pretty much anywhere if I bring along enough lubed and sized boolits. It seems to me that I am gonna need a full sized PU for the room etc. I am not going bring a TV but I will bring my guitar and my kindle. I can download via wi-fi or internet connection all the books I want for the Kindle thru our LV library from anywhere.

I will miss my sweetie but she does not travel well anymore since she cannot seem to find anyone to take care of her two dogs and two cats to her satisfaction. She has very high standards and that is the reason why I no longer live with her anymore. Two strong willed and demanding folks cannot live under the same roof without major sparks being struck a lot. It is a lot easier when the storm clouds arrive for me to just say goodbye and exit stage left than it is to endure the storm and then the non communication stages that always follow. If you live in the same residence where do you go?